Hilton launches new edgy midscale brand called ‘Tru’

Hilton Worldwide says it is set to ‘change the game’ with a revolutionary new midscale brand called Tru by Hilton.

The brand is set to make a significant debut with Hilton revealing it already has 102 hotels signed and 30 more in various stages of approval.

The company says Tru by Hilton is a brand that is “simplified, spirited and grounded in value, filling a massive void in the midscale category in the U.S. and Canada”.

“Built from a belief that being cost conscious and having a great stay don’t have to be mutually exclusive, Tru by Hilton offers an experience unlike anything in its space, consistently delivered in a surprisingly affordable way,” Hilton says.

The 102 hotels signed and an additional 30 hotels in various stages of approval in cities will be located across the US and Canada and in a range of destinations including Atlanta, Dallas, Houston, Chicago, Denver, Portland and Nashville.

“We are incredibly excited to be launching Tru by Hilton, which will serve the largest segment of the hotel market, but a segment where no brand is meeting guests’ current needs,” says Christopher J. Nassetta, President and CEO, Hilton Worldwide.

“Tru will provide guests with a high-quality, contemporary, consistent and fresh experience at a great value for customers, while at the same time delivering strong returns to our owners,” he says.

The company says Tru by Hilton is “more than just a place to sleep, it’s a true travel experience designed to deliver a strong value proposition for owners and guests”.

It says the brand will appeal to a broad range of travellers who span generations but think alike; they are united by a millennial mindset – a youthful energy, a zest for life and a desire for human connection. No brand is meeting their needs in their price point today.

Tru by Hilton’s features include:
-The Hive, a first floor experience that’s more than a lobby – 2,770 square-feet of open space with unique ways for guests to engage with others or spend time alone – in one of four distinct zones for lounging, working, eating or playing;

-Smart and efficiently designed guest rooms full of the things that matter most – all-white comfortable platform beds, 55-inch TVs, eight-foot wide windows, access to power everywhere, and surprisingly spacious bathrooms;

-A fitness center that defines wellness trends, rather than follows them, with a concept focused on cardio, strength and flexibility;

-A collaboration with DIRECTV, offering guests more than 150 channels, like they have at home; and

-A brand personality that’s full of life with a spirited culture grounded in a thoughtful, reliable and unflappable approach to guest service.

“More than 40 percent of all U.S. hotel stays are within the midscale and economy sectors1 and Tru by Hilton addresses a gap in the marketplace by appealing to the youthful mindset demographic, pushing the industry to marry quality and value,” says Jim Holthouser, Executive Vice President, Global Brands, Hilton Worldwide.

“We’re breaking through the clutter of undistinguished offerings to capture the hearts of today’s travelers and anticipating the needs of tomorrow’s guests, while delivering a hotel that’s a place travelers will want to go to rather than just through.”

Tru by Hilton’s prototype was designed to be “easily scalable to fit urban, suburban, highway and airport adjacent locations”, according to the company.

The company says the prototype is also adaptable to dual-branded hotels and the first Tru by Hilton hotel is expected to open by the end of 2016 in the United States.

“Knowing the intensive development process that was undertaken to create a distinctly different brand made expanding our presence in this rapidly-growing segment with Tru by Hilton an easy decision,” says Mitch Patel, President and CEO of Vision Hospitality Group.

“Hilton Worldwide’s legacy of creating category-leading brands that complement, rather than compete with each other, gives us a competitive edge in the midscale category.”

Guests of Tru by Hilton will enjoy the benefits of Hilton HHonors, the award-winning loyalty program serving more than 50 million members.

“As we developed Tru, we wanted to challenge everything we thought we knew about how a hotel in this category should be designed and to shift guests’ behavior and expectations,” says Phil Cordell, global head, focused service brands, Hilton Worldwide. “We feel that Tru by Hilton will deliver on that vision.”

Tru by Hilton will become the 13th brand in the company’s extensive portfolio and no plans have yet been revealed to roll it out globally.